Quick: name two of the top jazz cimbalom players. Exactly!
Over the years, Marius Preda played not only the cimbalom, but also violin, bass, accordion, piano and vibes for artists ranging from Mike Stern to John Patitucci , Dennis Chambers and Arturo Sandoval. Here, he teams up with a bunch of his buddies including Sandoval, Chambers, Sandoval and a bunch of guests for an exciting and eclectic mix of swinging sounds and grooves. Sandoval sighs gorgeously with lush keyboards on “Adriana” while Preda glistens on an ebullient “Waltz for Debby.” Lots of energy creates sparks as Preda and company create a hectic and frantic boogie on “Place St. Henri” and some hip CTI funk sets a deep groove on “Tango for the Giants.” Things get real interesting when Mike Stern plugs in his axe, as Stern, Chambers, Sandoval and bassist Tom Kennedy ruble in the jungle for an intricate and frenetic “B.A.T.C.” while Sandoval sits out on the highly hip “Oscars World” and futuristic electronics and strings make for an avalanche of a climax on “198 Strings vs Stern & Preda.” This guy’s gotta be heard to be believed